Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007)

A mature Queen Elizabeth endures multiple crises late in her reign including court intrigues, an assassination plot, the Spanish Armada, and romantic disappointments.

Director:

Shekhar Kapur

Writers:

William Nicholson, Michael Hirst

Stars:

Jordi Mollà, Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush

Won 1 Oscar. Another 5 wins & 15 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jordi Mollà	...	King Philip ll of Spain
Aimee King	...	Infanta
Cate Blanchett	...	Queen Elizabeth I
Laurence Fox	...	Sir Christopher Hatton
John Shrapnel	...	Lord Howard
Geoffrey Rush	...	Sir Francis Walsingham
Susan Lynch	...	Annette
Elise McCave	...	Laundry Woman
Samantha Morton	...	Mary Stuart
Abbie Cornish	...	Bess Throckmorton
Penelope McGhie	...	Margaret
Rhys Ifans	...	Robert Reston
Eddie Redmayne	...	Thomas Babington
Stuart McLoughlin	...	Savage
Clive Owen	...	Sir Walter Raleigh

Storyline

Two faiths, two empires, two rulers - colliding in 1588. Papist Spain wants to bring down the heretic Elizabeth. Philip is building an armada but needs a rationale to attack. With covert intrigue, Spain sets a trap for the Queen and her principal secretary, Walsingham, using as a pawn Elizabeth's cousin Mary Stuart, who's under house arrest in the North. The trap springs, and the armada sets sail, to rendezvous with French ground forces and to attack. During these months, the Virgin Queen falls in love with Walter Raleigh, keeping him close to court and away from the sea and America. Is treachery or heroism at his heart? Does loneliness await her passionate majesty?

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Plot Keywords:

queen | spain | intrigue | court | america | 

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Taglines:

Blanchett returns in the role for which she received an OSCAR nomination

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | History

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for violence, some sexuality and nudity

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Studio Canal [fr]

Country:

UK France USA Germany

Language:

English Spanish Swedish

Release Date:

12 October 2007 (USA)

Also Known As:

Elizabeth - La edad de oro

Filming Locations:

Baddesley Clinton, Warwickshire, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$55,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£1,348,440 (UK) (2 November 2007)

Gross:

£4,856,733 (UK) (30 November 2007)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, StudioCanal, Working Title Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

114 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Elizabeth's jewelery was made by Erickson Beamon of Belgravia. Her plumed hats were designed by Stephen Jones, Christian Dior's milliner.

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Goofs

Raleigh's introduction of the potato to court is pure fiction. Spanish Conquistadores "discovered" the potato, which the natives had cultivated for thousands of years, in Peru. They introduced the potato to Europe in 1570, while Raleigh was at Oxford. Moreover, Raleigh calls the potato by its Spanish name, "patata".

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Quotes

Sir Francis Walsingham: Mary Stuart must die!
Queen Elizabeth I: MUST? Mary Stuart must die? Where is written? Who says so? Have I ordered it?
Sir Francis Walsingham: Majesty, this is no time for mercy.
Queen Elizabeth I: [shouting] Don't preach at me, old man!

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Connections

Spoofed in The Simpsons: Four Great Women and a Manicure (2009)

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Soundtracks

"Love Theme - Arrest"
Written by David Hirschfelder
Conducted by David Hirschfelder, Ric Formosa and Sam Schwartz (as Sam Schwarz)
Courtesy of Universal Studios

User Reviews

Cate Blanchett is wonderful

This movie approaches the brink of becoming another corny, hokey Hollywood travesty but recovers to become an incredibly powerful and unique portrayal of Elizabeth I and her closest advisers and the political situation in Western Europe in the late 16th century. Cate Blanchett offers a masterful, powerful and provocative portrayal of the Virgin Queen which unlike most Hollywood portrayals of historical personages does not devolve into a laughable caricature. Elizabeth has feelings too and cares about ALL of her people, not just those who are of her religious persuasion. Also, the movie offers a credible portrayal of Elizabeth's relationship with her cousin Mary as well as a credible and comprehensible explanation of King Philip's decision to go to war against England. Whether Spain in 1585 was the most powerful country in the world as the movie purports is a matter for debate but the fact that there was a time in history when Spain actually wanted to invade England is amazing and is a story in itself. This movie is worth watching.